Monday 31st August, 2026
Kia ora koutou
Designed by Year 7 student, Ruby-Grace.
We had our senior speech competition, and I was so proud of everyone for giving it a go. It was tough competition, and we would like to congratulate the following students who placed:
1st - Stanley
2nd - Fergus
3rd - Arlo
Stanley will be receiving the Speech Cup at our prize giving, and as the top year 7/8 student, Fergus qualified for the Hurunui Speech Competition, run by the Lions. Thanks again to Mrs Turnbull and Mrs Pugh for being our judges.
We are really excited about our quiz night on the 11th September. A big thanks to the Glenmark Lions for organising this. Also thank to you the following businesses who have donated to our raffle/auction:
Pattersons Restaurant (Commodore Hotel)
Little Vintage
Markham St Trader
Ruby Six
Farmlands, Amberley
Greta Valley Tavern
Black Estate
PGG, Amberley
North Canterbury Vets
Porters Pass
Goldpine, Amberley
GSI Insurance
Monteiths, Hanmer Springs
Hanmer Springs Hot Pools
Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz
School Notices
Pie Day Friday
Here is the order form for pies for this Friday. Please have orders in by midday on Wednesday to guarantee a pie for Friday. If we have enough pies in the freezer, we will take orders on Thursday if you email Maree and Bryleigh directly.
School photos
We have school photos on Wednesday 9th September (please note change of date). There will be information sent home today regarding sibling and individual photos. Please send this back to school this week if you would like them.
Kapa haka transport - Thursday 10th September
If you are coming to kapa haka and are able to transport some children, or if your child will meet us there, please let Maree know. Everyone else will go on the school bus. Info about tickets is below.
Answer phone
As we don’t always have someone in the office, when you leave a message on our answer phone it gets emailed to Maree and Bryleigh. So feel free to leave messages, or you can email directly.
Whole school Orana Park trip
We will be visiting Orana Park on Tuesday 13th October for the start of our inquiry next term. We will be leaving school just before 9am and will be back by 3pm. Please let Maree know if you are able to help with transport. We are not able to take preschoolers with us on this trip.
Hurunui Foodbank drive
Please help us support the Hurunui community foodbank drive. Our local foodbanks are currently running low on some everyday pantry staples, and we’re asking those who are able to bring in one non-perishable item by the end of this Friday 4 September for the council food bank to collect. They have indicated their current priority items are:
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned fish
Peanut butter
Rice
Pasta
There’s no expectation for all families to contribute, just an opportunity for those who can to help local individuals and families experiencing hardship.
Preschooler morning
We welcome you to our preschooler morning on Wednesday 2nd September from 9am - 10.30am. Please bring along a drink bottle and a snack for your child.
Production logistics
Matinee:
On the 24th September, we have our matinee at 10am. Please make sure your children are on time to school, ideally here by 8.45am with their hair done ready for the production. Please do make up before they come if you are doing this at home, otherwise we will do it at school.
Evening show:
In the afternoon we ask that you please pick your children up at 2.30pm, and the buses will be leaving then as well. They can then get home, have a rest, have some food, and then be at the hall by 4.30pm with their hair already done. If they are doing make up at home, they can arrive at 5pm. Otherwise we will do make up when they arrive. Please send a drink bottle and some small snacks in a named bag - no yoghurt, or messy snacks etc.
Make up
If you can help with make up at either of the shows, please let Maree know.
Production costumes and tickets
Please can you send in all named production costumes by this Friday. Please put them in a bag with your child’s name on them.
You can order tickets here, and Bryleigh will invoice you. Once that has been paid, we will send the tickets home. Adult tickets are $14, and child tickets are $5. Under 5 are free. This covers the cost of our sound and lighting. If you are bringing a preschooler to the matinee, and coming again to the evening event, you will only be charged for one adult ticket.
Production stage and lighting
Thanks to Kate for agreeing to pick up and drop off the stage to Amberley. We have lighting that needs to be picked up and dropped back to Hurunui College in the last week of school. Please let Maree know if you can help with this.
Community Notices
Fundraising for the Waipara Valley Vineyard Trail
Construction has started on the Omihi Creek bridge. This is the last piece of the Waipara Valley Trail that will finally get walkers and cyclists off State Highway 1! Phases 1 and 2 are funded and underway with $175,000 raised, but the Hurunui Trails Trust still needs to raise $80,000 for phase 3.
There are sponsorship packages available from $1,500 up to the $45,000 naming rights, or people can pledge whatever they're comfortable with through the Givealittle page - please visit givealittle.co.nz/org/hurunuitrails for more information and to donate.
Help your community to vote in this year’s general election!
There are over 28,000 jobs available for the 2026 General Election. We need people from all over Aotearoa New Zealand with all levels of experience to apply. No experience, no worries! We are recruiting for a variety of roles.
Whether you’re new to the job market or an experienced leader, chances are there is a role to suit you. You’ll be fully trained and get paid to work in the heart of your community.
Election Day is Saturday 7 November, and advance voting begins on Monday 26 October.
Roles vary in length from several weeks to just Election Day, so there are lots of opportunities available.
For those in the Kaikōura Electorate, please visit the following link to view the available roles and apply: Kaikōura Electorate – 2026 General Election recruitment
